The Nation's Weather

Updated 1:42 pm, Tuesday, February 16, 2016

An area of low pressure moved northeastward along the crest of the Appalachians. This system was accompanied by warm and moist air, which lead to the development of moderate to heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms. These storms trekked across the eastern tier of the Mid-Atlantic and eastern New England. Flood advisories were issued for portions of central and southeast New York, eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Severe thunderstorm warnings were also issued across New Jersey. New York City reported a midday total of 0.35 of an inch of rain. Philadelphia reported a midday total of 0.56 of an inch of rain. Multiple tornadoes reportedly touched down in southeast Florida and eastern North Carolina. Along the northwestern periphery of the low pressure system, a mixture of heavy snow and freezing rain developed over western Pennsylvania and western New York. Chandlers Valley, Pa., reported a midday total of 8.0 inches of snow. Fairport, N.Y., reported a midday total of 16.5 inches of snow.

Meanwhile, a wave of low pressure shifted east northeastward over the middle Mississippi Valley. This system ushered a mixture of rain and snow across the middle Mississippi Valley and the Tennessee Valley.

Additionally, an area of low pressure brought light to moderate precipitation to the upper Intermountain West and the northern Plains. High pressure kept most states clear of precipitation west of the Continental Divide. Temperatures spiked 15 to 20 degrees above normal across portions of California and the Desert Southwest. San Diego, Calif., recorded a midday high of 86 degrees. Los Angeles, Calif., recorded a midday high of 87 degrees.

A fairly accurate description of a Minnesota winter can be summed up in one word...cold. Pokegama, MN lived up to this characteristic on this date in 1903 when it recorded a temperature of -59 degrees and set a state record for the coldest temperature ever.